Radially adjustable clutch release bearing assembly

ABSTRACT

A self-aligning clutch release bearing and carrier sleeve assembly includes a carrier sleeve which defines a first axis and a bearing adapted to be brought into engagement with rotating clutch fingers or the like of a clutch mechanism, which clutch fingers rotate about a second axis which may not be exactly coincidental with the first axis. The bearing and carrier sleeve assembly is adapted to adjust the rotation orientation of the bearing to coincide with the second axis of rotation of the clutch fingers. This bearing and carrier sleeve assembly comprises: a bearing including a generally annular thrust face for engagement with the clutch fingers and first and second annular raceways having a plurality of bearing elements disposed therebetween, one of the raceways rotating in unison with the thrust face and the other of the raceways being coupled with the carrier sleeve. A mounting arrangement is provided for grippingly engaging the second raceway for mounting the same to the carrier sleeve. The second raceway having an annular radially inwardly extending shoulder portion and the mounting arrangement defines a recess of complementary form for receiving the raceway shoulder portion therewithin. The raceway shoulder portion terminates at a position radially spaced apart from a radially innermost end of the recess for permitting a predetermined amount of radial movement of the bearing relative to the carrier sleeve while substantially preventing axial movement of the bearing relative to the carrier sleeve.

This is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 119,164 filed onNov. 10, 1987 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,437, which is a division of Ser.No. 878,658 filed Jun. 25, 1986, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,943.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to clutch release type thrust bearings,and more particularly concerns a clutch release bearing which is adaptedto permit radial realignment or adjustment of the bearing relative to acarrier sleeve on which it is mounted so as to accommodate some slightmisalignment between the axis of a carrier sleeve upon which the bearingis mounting on the one hand and the axis of rotation of clutch releasefingers against which the bearing engages on the other hand.

Automotive clutch throw-out or release bearings are used as aforce-transmitting device between a foot-operated clutch pedal lever andclutch fingers. Generally speaking, the bearing comprises a thrust typeof bearing adapted to transmit thrust forces from a non-rotating pedallever mechanism to the rotating fingers of the clutch mechanism. Themass production of automotive clutches, clutch bearings and associatedparts requires that these parts be manufactured and assembled at minimumcost. However, relatively high standards of quality and reliability mustalso be met in this process. To assure compatability of the massproduced parts, it is important that the parts be designed, arrangedand/or assembled so as to reliably operate in spite of slight partmisalignments which may occur during assembly. These misalignments canarise as a result of minor variations in part sizes and shapes, eventhough each part may be within manufacturing tolerances.

Such misalignments can also occur gradually over the service life of thevehicle, due to the substantial operating forces and occasional wearover long periods of use to which the parts are subjected. Exemplaryclutch throw-out bearing assemblies are described for example in U.S.Pat. Nos. 3,909,086 and 4,046,436.

The bearing of the present invention is advantageously designed so as topermit some radial movement or displacement of the bearing relative to aradially stationary carrier sleeve member to which it is mounted. Thisradial movement accommodates a corresponding amount of radialmisalignment which may occur between the axis of the carrier sleeve andthe axis of rotation of the clutch fingers which the thrust face of thebearing is intended to engage. This assures proper engagement of theclutch fingers by the bearing thrust face.

Moreover, the bearing assembly of the present invention isadvantageously designed so as to permit such radial movement orrealignment of the bearing relative to the carrier sleeve only inresponse to radial forces applied thereto upon engagement with theclutch fingers. Once the proper axial alignment is achieved, theassembly of the invention provides for frictional engagement of thebearing which engagement tends to maintain the radial position ororientation of the bearing relative to the carrier sleeve in the absenceof further force applied thereto in a radial direction. That is, theradial movement permitted the bearing does not result in a radially freebearing which might oscillate or wobble, but only permits movement asrequired for alignment with the clutch fingers, thereafter tending tomaintain the bearing in the radial orientation appropriate formaintaining such alignment.

Further in this regard, the bearing of the invention may also beutilized with a constant running type of clutch arrangement whichmaintains a slight preloading of the clutch bearing relative to theclutch fingers. That is, the bearing thrust face is maintained inengagement with the clutch fingers for rotation therewith whenever theassociated automotive engine is running.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The organizationand manner of operation of the invention, together with further objectsand advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingsin the several figures of which like reference numerals identify likeelements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away and partially insection, illustrating a clutch release bearing and carrier sleeveassembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged partial sectional view of a portion of theassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end plan view of the carrier sleeve portion of theembodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating further details thereof;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken diammetrically across a clutch releasebearing and carrier sleeve assembly similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 2,but constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged partial sectional view of a portion of theassembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an end view, similar to the view in FIG. 3, of the carriersleeve portion of the assembly of FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrating furtherdetails thereof;

FIG. 7 is an exploded, partial sectional view of a bearing and carriersleeve assembly in accordance with a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 7 in itsassembled form;

FIG. 9 is a partially exploded, partial sectional view similar to FIG.7, illustrating yet a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view illustrating the embodiment of FIG.9 in an assembled condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

Referring now initially to FIGS. 1-3, a novel self-aligning clutchrelease bearing and carrier sleeve assembly is designated by thereference numeral 10. This assembly 10 generally comprises a clutchrelease bearing 12 and a carrier sleeve member 14 which mounts theclutch bearing and also further a first axis 15. That is, the clutchrelease bearing 12 is adapted to be installed upon the generallycylindrical carrier sleeve 14 in a position for engagement with aplurality of normally rotating clutch fingers 16, which are shown inphantom line in FIG. 1. These clutch fingers in turn rotate about acenterline or axis of rotation 25, which is intended to be substantiallycoincidental with the axis 15 of the carrier sleeve 14. However, due toa number of factors, such as slight misalignments between parts duringmanufacture and assembly, as well as misalignments which occur due towear and operating forces while in service, these axes 15 and 25 areoften not exactly coincidential. Hence, the axes 15 and 25 are shown ina somewhat exaggerated condition of misalignment in FIG. 1, toillustrate this phenomenon.

Advantageously, the present invention provides a novel self-aligningbearing and carrier sleeve assembly 10 including a mounting means orarrangement for mounting the bearing 12 to the carrier sleeve 14 in sucha way as to permit a predetermined amount of radial movement of thebearing relative to the carrier sleeve. This amount of radial movementis provided so as to accommodate any misalignment which may occurbetween the axis 15 of the carrier sleeve and the axis 25 of the clutchfinger 16. More particularly, the radial movement permitted bearing 12relative to carrier sleeve 14 is such as to permit a more precisealignment or centering of an annular thrust face 18 of the bearing 12relative to the clutch fingers 16.

At this point, it will be noted that one arrangement for achieving thismounting of the bearing relative to the carrier sleeve is illustrated inFIGS. 1-3. However, further arrangements for achieving this mounting areillustrated respectively in FIGS. 4-6; in FIGS. 7 and 8, and in FIGS. 9and 10, respectively. In each of these embodiments, like referencenumerals are used to designate like parts and components. However, likereference numerals together with respective subscripts a, b and crespectively will be utilized herein to designate various components andstructures, which although differ in their structural details performessentially the same functions among the additional three alternativeforms just mentioned.

In this regard, each of the embodiments preferably utilizes asubstantially identical bearing member or bearing assembly 12 whichincludes the previously mentioned thrust face 18 for engagement with theclutch finger 16 as shown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the thrust face 18 isan outwardly facing surface of a first generally annular, and preferablycup-like raceway element or member 20. In operation, it will beunderstood that the carrier sleeve 14 is carried on a shaft (not shown).Consequently, upon depression of a clutch pedal (not shown) the sleeveis moved axially along this shaft so as to force thrust bearing 12, andspecifically thrust face 18 thereof, into engagement with the clutchfingers 16. A second generally annular raceway 22 is provided generallyfacing the raceway member 20 so as to receive a plurality of bearingelements 24 therebetween. In the illustrated embodiment the bearingelements 24 are spherical balls and hence inner surfaces of these tracksor raceways are generally semi-spherically shaped to accept thesebearing elements 24. However, other configurations of bearing elementsand cooperating raceway track configurations may be utilized withoutdeparting from the invention.

Also in the illustrated embodiment, the bearing 12 includes acombination carrier-spacer ring element 26 which is configured tomaintain the ball bearing elements in an evenly spaced array about thecircumferences of the raceways 20 and 22. Moreover, the illustratedbearing raceways 20 and 22 are shaped to engage the balls 24 from pointssomewhat beyond an axial centerline 28 thereof to and including a pointsomewhat beyond a radial centerline 30. It will be noted that referenceherein to the axial and radial directions is with respect to the axis 15of the carrier sleeve 14. This "over-center" contact of respectiveraceways 20, 22 with respect to the bearing elements 24 facilitates theability of the bearing to withstand forces in a radial direction withoutseparating the bearing components.

For example, when the bearing rotates at a high speed, centrifugalforces are created which tend to urge the ball bearing elements 24radially outwardly, thus applying a force in a direction tending toseparate the raceways 20 and 22. If such separation occurs, the areas ofengagement between the ball bearings 24 and the raceways 20 and 22 willchange, which may lead to excessive wear and early bearing failure. Inthe present design, the overlapping of the bearing raceway surfaces withrespect to the axes 24 and 28 tends to overcome this tendency for thebearing elements or balls 24 to move radially outwardly and henceaccommodates some degree of radial loading of the bearing.

A bearing shell or housing member 34 is generally L-shaped incross-section and engages the first, front or radially outer raceway 20at an outer circumferential surface thereof, generally radiallyoutwardly of thrust face 18. The direction "front" and "rear" as usedherein refer to the axial direction (along axis 15) with thrust face 18defining the front of the assembly. The annular, L-cross-sectionalshaped shell 34 extends rearwardly with respect to thrust face 18, togenerally surround a rearwardly facing surface portion 36 of the second,rear or radially inner raceway member 22. However, it will be noted thatthe shell or housing 34 is spaced apart from this rear surface 36 so asto permit rotation of shell 34 in unison with raceway 20 while, as willpresently be described, the inner or second raceway 22 remainsstationary or non-rotatable relative to the carrier sleeve 14. Anadditional generally flat, annular inner seal member 38 may also beprovided bridging respective inwardly facing surfaces of the raceways 20and 22, to provide a seal against radially inward leakage or loss oflubricants or the like. In order to receive and position the seal 38,the outer raceway 20 is additionally provided with a radially innershoulder portion 40.

A radially outer shoulder portion 42 is provided on the bearing 20 forengagement with a complementary formed, bent-over forward portion or lip44 of the shell or housing 34. In accordance with the invention there isprovided a novel mounting means or arrangement, designated generally byreference numeral 50, for permitting some radial motion of the bearing12 relative to carrier sleeve 14 to accommodate slight misalignmentsbetween the respective axes 15 and 25 as discussed above. In theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, this mounting means orarrangement 50 includes a radially inwardly extending shoulder portion52 formed on the second or inner raceway member 22, and a recess orrecess means 54 of generally complementary dimensions for receiving theshoulder portion 52 therewithin formed in the carrier sleeve 14. Inaccordance with the invention, the raceway shoulder portion 52terminates at a position 56 which is radially spaced apart from aradially innermost end or surface 58 of the recess means 54 forpermitting a predetermined amount of radial movement of the bearingrelative to the carrier sleeve. However, it will be noted that therecess 54 generally prevents axial movement of the bearing relative tothe carrier sleeve.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the mounting means 50, including recessmeans 54 is formed as a mounting portion 51, integral with the carriersleeve 14. The recess means 54 is sized for frictionally engaging theshoulder portion 52 so as to permit a predetermined amount of radialmovement thereof only in response to an externally applied forcesufficient to overcome frictional forces of engagement between recess 54and shoulder 52. Hence, the engagement therebetween is such as to holdthe bearing in its last-achieved radial position in the absence of, orupon cessation of, forces or force components applied thereto in theradial direction. That is, once alignment of the thrust face 18 withclutch fingers 16 is achieved, the frictional engagement between recess54 and shoulder 52 tends to maintain the bearing 12 in the position atwhich such alignment is achieved. Thereafter, should further radialmisalignments occur during operation, the radial forces apply to thebearing structure 12 as a result of such misalignments will normally besufficient to overcome this frictional force of engagement and causesufficient radial movement of the bearing to realign the thrust face 18with the clutch fingers 16. In this regard, the carrier sleeve 14 of theembodiment of FIGS. 1-3 is formed of a plastics material, with themounting means 50 formed integrally therewith and including anelastically deformable, generally annular mounting position 51 forsnapping engagement of the bearing raceway 22 therewith to facilitateassembly thereof.

More particularly, in this regard, the mounting portion 51 of thecarrier sleeve defines a generally annular undercut notch 54 comprisingthe recess means for receiving and frictionally engaging the shoulder52. It will be seen that this undercut notch has one axial wall orsurface, here indicated by reference numeral 55, which is canted ortilted somewhat axially rearwardly with respect to thrust face 18. Themounting portion 51 further includes a cam lead-in surface or ramp 60which is axially spaced by axial distance 61 from the notch or recessmeans 54 to initially engage and guide the bearing, and particularly theraceway portion 22 and shoulder 52 up over ramp 60 and into engagementwith recess or notch 54.

To this end, and as best viewed in FIG. 3, the elastically deformable,generally annular mounting portion 51 is also preferably through-slottedat a plurality of locations about the periphery thereof. That is, aplurality of radial through slots 62 are provided, which in theillustrated embodiment are shown generally at respective quadrants or90-degree intervals about the circumference of mounting portion 51.These slots define elastically deformable means or segments 63 whichpermit some elastic or resilient inward bending of the mounting portion51 thereby defining elastically thereof to permit the bearing, andparticularly raceway 22 and shoulder 52, to ride up over the lead-in orramp surface 60 and into engagement with recess means or notch 54. Thatis, the radially through openings 62 are circumferentially spaced forpermitting elastic radially inward deformation of mounting portion 51 ofthe mounting means 50 to receive the bearing 10 thereover for axialmovement over the cam lead-in surface 60 and thereafter, for resilientreturn of mounting portion 51 to an undeformed state so as to engage thenotch or recess thereof about the raceway shoulder portion 52.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 6, a second embodiment of a mountingmeans or arrangement is designated by reference numeral 50a. As with thecarrier sleeve 14 of FIGS. 1-3, a similar carrier sleeve 14a has themounting means formed integrally as a mounting portion 51a. In thisregard, carrier sleeve 14a and the mounting portion 51a thereof areformed of a plastics material. The mounting portion 51a includesresilient or elastically deformable means, here designated by referencenumeral 63a for snappingly engaging the bearing raceway 22 andspecifically shoulder portion 52 thereof. In the embodiment illustratedin FIGS. 4-6, this elastically deformable means comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced, elastically deformable protruding members orfingers 70 (see also FIG. 6). These members 70 are elasticallyretractable radially inwardly for receiving the bearing 12 andspecifically raceway 22 and shoulder 52 thereof thereover, and areresiliently returnable for thereafter frictionally engaging the raceway22 and particularly shoulder 52 thereof. These protruding members orfingers 70 further partially define the recess means 54a for receivingand engaging this shoulder 52 of raceway 22.

More particularly, and with reference now to the embodiments of bothFIGS. 1-3 and FIGS. 4-6, both carrier sleeves 14 and 14a include at themounting portions 51, 51a thereof increased diameter abutment portion 72for abutting a rearwardly facing surface 36 of the raceway 22 and ofshoulder portion 52 relative to the thrust face 18. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 through 3, this increased diameter abutment surface 72 isgenerally radially extending and axially spaced from the undercutsurface 55 for engaging the shoulder 52 therebetween. In the embodimentof FIGS. 4 through 6, the surface 72 opposingly faces the outermost endsof the elastically deformable protruding members 70, it will be noted,which compare elastically deformable rearwardly diverging fingers orfinger-like members.

That it, these protruding members or fingers 70 generally divergerearwardly or in the direction of the radially extending abutmentsurface or portion 72 for engaging the raceway shoulder portion 52therebetween. It will be noted that as these fingers diverge, theyleave, in part, a generally open space 74 sufficient to receive thefingers 70 in retracted or axially inwardly collapsed condition topermit passage of the shoulder 52 thereover to permit assembly of thebearing with the carrier sleeve, and particularly assembly of protrudingshoulder portion 52 with recess 54. In this regard, as best viewed inFIG. 5, a radially inner portion of recess means 54 is defined by aradially inwardly extending annular portion of the mounting portion 51aforming a slight annular shoulder therein as indicated generally byreference numeral 76. This shoulder 76 defines the space 74, which asmentioned leaves sufficient space for collapse of fingers 70 to permitpassage of shoulder 52 thereover, immediately prior to resilient returnthereof to the receiving or bearing-shoulder engaging position shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. Hence, the rearwardly diverging fingers 70 are inwardlyelastically deformable for receiving the raceway shoulder portionthereover and thereafter are resiliently returnable for engagement withthe raceway shoulder portion.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8, and FIGS. 9 and 10, respectively,the mounting means 50b and 50c comprise generally annular mountingmembers 80 and 82, 84 respectively. These annular mounting members haveinner surfaces; 86, 88, 90 adapted for non-rotatable engagement with thecarrier sleeve. Turning first to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, thegenerally annular mounting member 80 also defines on its radially outersurface the recess means 54b for engagement with the shoulder portion 52of the raceway 22.

The annular mounting members 82, 84 in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10further are provided with positioning means for cooperating withcorresponding positioning means on the carrier sleeve 14c forpositioning the respective annular members 82, 84 in a spaced apartcondition on the sleeve 14c. This positioning thereby defines betweenthe two annular members 82 and 84 the recess means 54c for receiving theraceway shoulder portion 52.

Returning now to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, as best viewed in FIG.7, the annular mounting member 80 includes a first generallyfrusto-conical elastically deformable portion 92. This portion 92defines a generally frusto-conical inner surface 94 of lesser minimumdiamter than the outer diameter of the carrier sleeve 14b at a generallycylindrical outer surface portion 96 thereof to which the mountingmember 80 is to be engaged about. This frusto-conical portion 94 iselastically radially outwardly deformable for engagement over portion 96of the carrier sleeve 14b. As previously mentioned, the outer surface ofmounting member 80 defines the recess means 54b.

More particularly, first and second generally radially raised orradially extending abutment portions or surfaces 98, 100 protruderadially from the outer surface of member 80 to define the recess means54b therebetween. Moreover, the abutment portion or surface 100 isdefined at a rear edge, with respect to the thrust face 18, of a camlead-in or ramp surface 102. This ramp surface 102 is thus axiallyspaced from the recess means 54b in the direction of the thrust face forthereby guiding the bearing 12, and more particularly the racewayshoulder portion 52 thereover and into engagement with the recess 54b.

In this regar, the came lead-in or ramp surface 102 diverges in anaxially rearward direction from the frusto-conical portion 92 and iselastically radially inwardly deformable therewith to permit theshoulder portion 52 of raceway 22 to ride thereover and into initialengagement with the recess means 54b. Thereafter, upon engagement ofinner surface 94 of mounting member 80 with outer surface 96 of carriersleeve 14b, the frusto-conical portion 92 and cam lead-in portion orramp 102 will be deformed in a generally radially outward direction soas to extend surface 100 into a generally radial orientation generallyparallel with and spaced from abutment surface 98 so as to grippinglyengage the raceway shoulder portion 52 therebetween. In this regard,radially extending abutment surface 74b of the carrier sleeve 14b actsas a stop or positioning means or surface for defining the fullyassembled condition of mounting member 80 therewith. That is, arearwardly facing surface 104 of abutment portion 98 will abut thisupstanding abutment or positioning surface 74b of the carrier sleeve14b.

IT is envisioned in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 that assembly of thebearing and carrier sleeve will proceed by initially assembling thebearing 12 over the mounting member 80, such that the ramp surface 102may deform inwardly somewhat to receive the shoulder 52 thereover. Uponfull advancement of the face or surface 36 of raceway 22 relative toabutment surface 98, the now assembled mounting member 80 and bearing 12may be further assembled with the carrier sleeve 14b. Thereupon, theoutward flexing or resilient deformation of the frusto-conical portion92 and cam or ramp surface 102 carried thereupon will cause grippingfrictional engagement of the shoulder 52 between respective surfaces 98and 100 of the mounting member 80.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10, itwill be noted that the carrier sleeve 14c has a generally annular orcylindrical outer surface portion 96c, similar to surface portion 96 ofFIGS. 7, and of an outer diameter complementary for receiving the firstand second mounting members 82 and 84 closely engaged thereover. Thesemounting members are thereby non-rotatably engaged with the carriersleeve 14c. Moreover, an increased diameter or radially outwardlyextending portion 74c defines an abutment surface for defining fulladvancement of the first mounting member 50c with respect to portion 96cof the carrier sleeve. In this regard, the first mounting member 82comprises a generally annular, grommet-like member of an elastomericmaterial, such as rubber or a synthetic rubber-like material, disposedagainst the abutment surface 74c to be engaged between the abutmentsurface 74c and the facing surface 36 of the bearing raceway 22. Thisarrangement permits a frictional engagement of the shoulder portion 52of the raceway while permitting some radial movement thereof relative tothe carrier sleeve 14c.

The second generally annular mounting member 84 is preferably formed ofa plastics material and is generally cylindrical in form having an innersurface 90 of complementary dimension of non-rotatable engagement withcarrier sleeve portion 96c. The previously mentioned positioning meanscomprises locating notch means 110 on one of the carrier sleeve andsecond mounting member and a protruding locating tab member or means 112on the other of the carrier sleeve and annular mounting member 84. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the locating notch means 110 comprises agenerally annular groove formed in a peripheral surface of carriersleeve portion 96c, while the protruding tab is a complementary shaped,generally annular radially inwardly protruding ridge formed on the innersurface 90 of mounting member 84. It will be appreciated, however, thatthe locations of the notch and groove may be reversed, or thatincomplete or circumferentially spaced notch and groove members orsimilar locating means may be provided without departing from theinvention. In any event, the position of the locating means 110, 112 issuch as to position the second annular mounting member 84 relative tothe carrier sleeve axially spaced from the first annular mounting member82 so as to define the recess means 54c therebetween. More particularly,this spacing is defined such that a rearwardly facing surface 114 ofmounting member 84 is positioned for frictional engagement with theshoulder 52 so as to press the same slightly against elastomeric annularmounting member or ring 82 to achieve some frictional engagement orgripping of the shoulder 52 therebetween. As previously mentioned, thisgripping engagement is such as to permit radial movement in response toradial forces applied for achieving alignment of thrust face 18 asdesired, but precludes axial movement of the bearing. Moreover, theengagement is such as to substantially prevent radial movement of thebearing in the absence of, or upon cessation of radially acting forcesor force components applied thereto.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications of the present invention, in its various aspects, maybe made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects,some of which changes and modifications being matters of routineengineering or design, and others being apparent only after study. Assuch, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the particularembodiments and specific contructions described herein but should bedefined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. Accordingly, theaim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A self-aligning clutch releasebearing and carrier sleeve assembly including a carrier sleeve whichdefines a first axis and a bearing adapted to be brought into engagementwith rotating clutch fingers or the like of a clutch mechanism, whichclutch fingers rotate about a second axis which may not be exactlycoincidental with said first axis, said bearing and carrier sleeveassembly being adapted to adjust the rotational orientation of thebearing to coincide with the second axis of rotation of said clutchfingers, said bearing and carrier sleeve assembly comprising: a bearingincluding an outer raceway having a generally annular thrust face forengagement with said clutch fingers and an inner raceway having anannular radially inwardly extending shoulder portion; and mounting meansfor grippingly engaging said shoulder portion for mounting the bearingto said carrier sleeve; said mounting means defining recess means ofcomplementary form for receiving said shoulder portion therewithin; saidshoulder portion terminating at a position radially spaced apart from aradially innermost end of said recess means for permitting apredetermined amount of radial movement of said bearing relative to saidcarrier sleeve while substantially preventing axial movement of saidbearing relative to said carrier sleeve; wherein said carrier sleeve isformed of a plastics material and wherein said mounting means comprisesa mounting portion formed integrally with said carrier sleeve andincluding elastically deformable means for snappingly engaging saidshoulder portion therewith; wherein said mounting portion of saidcarrier sleeve defines a generally annular, undercut notch comprisingsaid recess means for receiving said shoulder portion therein and a camlead-in surface axially spaced from said notch in the direction of saidthrust face for receiving and guiding said shoulder portion of saidbearing thereover and into snapping engagement with said notch; andwherein said mounting portion of said carrier sleeve has a plurality ofradially through openings circumferentially spaced thereon to definesaid elastically deformable means for permitting elastic radially inwarddeformation thereof to receive said bearing thereover for axial movementover said cam lead-in surface and thereafter, resilient return of saidmounting portion to engage said notch portion thereof about saidshoulder portion.
 2. A self-aligning clutch release bearing and carriersleeve assembly including a carrier sleeve which defines a first axisand a bearing adapted to be brought into engagement with rotating clutchfingers or the like of a clutch mechanism, which clutch fingers rotateabout a second axis which may not be exactly coincidental with saidfirst axis, said bearing and carrier sleeve assembly being adapted toadjust the rotational orientation of the bearing to coincide with thesecond axis of rotation of said clutch fingers, said bearing and carriersleeve assembly comprising: a bearing including a generally annularthrust face for engagement with said clutch fingers and inner and outerannular raceways having a plurality of bearing elements disposedtherebetween, said outer raceway rotating in unison with said thrustface and said inner raceway being coupled with said carrier sleeve; andmounting means for grippingly engaging said inner raceway for mountingthe same to said carrier sleeve; said second raceway having an annularradially inwardly extending shoulder portion and said mounting meansdefining recess means of complementary form for receiving said shoulderportion therewithin; said shoulder portion terminating at a positionradially spaced apart from a radially innermost end of said recess meansfor permitting a predetermined amount of radial movement of said bearingrelative to said carrier sleeve while substantially preventing axialmovement of said bearing relative to said carrier sleeve; wherein saidcarrier sleeve is formed of a plastics material and wherein saidmounting means comprises a mounting portion formed integrally with saidcarrier sleeve and including elastically deformable means for snappinglyengaging said shoulder portion therewith; and wherein said mountingportion of said carrier sleeve defines a generally annular, undercutnotch comprising said recess means for receiving said shoulder portionof said inner raceway therein and a cam lead-in surface axially spacedfrom said notch in the direction of said thrust face for receiving andguiding said shoulder portion of said bearing thereover and intosnapping engagement with said notch.
 3. A self-aligning clutch releasebearing and carrier sleeve assembly including a carrier sleeve whichdefines a first axis and a bearing adapted to be brought into engagementwith rotating clutch fingers or the like of a clutch mechanism, whichclutch fingers rotate about a second axis which may not be exactlycoincidental with said first axis, said bearing and carrier sleeveassembly being adapted to adjust the rotational orientation of thebearing to coincide with the second axis of rotation of said clutchfingers, said bearing and carrier sleeve assembly comprising: a bearingincluding an outer raceway having a generally annular thrust face forengagement with said clutch fingers and an inner raceway having anannular radially inwardly extending shoulder portion; and mounting meansfor grippingly engaging said shoulder portion for mounting the bearingto said carrier sleeve; said mounting means defining recess means ofcomplementary form for receiving said shoulder portion therewithin; saidshoulder portion terminating at a position radially spaced apart from aradially innermost end of said recess means for permitting apredetermined amount of radial movement of said bearing relative to saidcarrier sleeve while substantially preventing axial movement of saidbearing relative to said carrier sleeve; wherein said carrier sleeve isformed of a plastics material and wherein said mounting means comprisesa mounting portion formed integrally with said carrier sleeve andincluding elastically deformable means for snappingly engaging saidshoulder portion therewith; wherein said elastically deformable means isdefined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, elasticallydeformable protruding members surrounding and partly defining saidrecess means, which members are elastically retractable radiallyinwardly for receiving said shoulder portion thereover and resilientlyreturnable for thereafter frictionally engaging said shoulder portion;wherein said carrier sleeve mounting portion includes a radiallyoutwardly extending abutment portion for abutting a rearwardly facingsurface of said shoulder portion relative to said thrust face andwherein said protruding members comprise a plurality of elasticallydeformable rearwardly diverging fingers, generally diverging in thedirection of said radially extending carrier sleeve abutment portion andterminating at a position axially spaced therefrom for engaging saidshoulder portion therebetween, said rearwardly diverging fingers beinginwardly elastically deformable for receiving the shoulder portionthereover and thereafter resiliently returnable for engagement with theshoulder portion.
 4. A self-aligning clutch release bearing and carriersleeve assembly including a carrier sleeve which defines a first axisand a bearing adapted to be brought into engagement with rotating clutchfingers or the like of a clutch mechanism, which clutch fingers rotateabout a second axis which may not be exactly coincidental with saidfirst axis, said bearing and carrier sleeve assembly being adapted toadjust the rotational orientation of the bearing to coincide with thesecond axis of rotation of said clutch fingers, said bearing and carriersleeve assembly comprising: a bearing including a generally annularthrust face for engagement with said clutch fingers and inner and outerannular raceways having a plurality of bearing elements disposedtherebetween, said outer raceway, rotating in unison with said thrustface and being coupled with said carrier sleeve; and mounting means forgrippingly engaging said inner raceway for mounting the same to saidcarrier sleeve; said inner raceway having an annular radially inwardlyextending shoulder portion and said mounting means defining recess meansof complementary form for receiving said shoulder portion therewithin;said shoulder portion terminating at a position radially spaced apartfrom a radially innermost end of said recess means for permitting apredetermined amount of radial movement of said bearing relative to saidcarrier sleeve while substantially preventing axial movement of saidbearing relative to said carrier sleeve; wherein said carrier sleeve isformed of a plastics material and wherein said mounting means comprisesa mounting portion formed integrally with said carrier sleeve andincluding elastically deformable means for snappingly engaging saidshoulder portion therewith; and wherein said elastically deformablemeans is defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, elasticallydeformable protruding members surrounding and partly defining saidrecess means, which members are elastically retractable radiallyinwardly for receiving said inner raceway shoulder portion thereover andresiliently returnable for thereafter frictionally engaging said innerraceway shoulder portion.